http://www.kpcnews.com/display/inn_news/Noble/noble02.txt
November 27, 2001 - ALBION - The neglect of an old cemetery in Noble
County was once again brought to the attention of the Noble County
Commissioners Monday.
At issue is the lack of a way to get to the Stewart, or Griesinger,
Cemetery that sits in a field in Washington Township bordered by C.R.
200S on the north, C.R. 300S on the south, C.R. 1050W on the west and
C.R. 1000W on the east.
Martha Gee Barnhart, who spoke to the commissioners on behalf of parties
interested in preserving the cemetery, said the land on which the
cemetery sits was deeded to the public in 1861. At that time, an
easement was granted to get from the cemetery from Wolf Lake-Oswego
Road. But that road no longer exists. Now the easement ends in a farm
field owned by Longville Farms.
The issue of access to the cemetery is not new to the commissioners.
Barnhart first came before the board in June 2000 with the same problem.
Since then, Commissioner Hal Stump said he attempted to work with the
landowners and Washington Township Trustee Allen Miller to no avail.
They could not come to an agreement to provide easy access to the
cemetery, and Stump said he does not have the legal authority to force
an agreement.
"At this point, we've made no progress," said Stump. "Actually, I
think
we've gone backwards."
"We can't do anything," said Barnhart of her wish to clean up the
cemetery. "It's been almost two years and we still can't do anything
because we don't have access."
Barnhart has not been completely cut off from access to the cemetery,
but it is strictly limited. She must get permission from the landowners
to get back to the cemetery, and cannot drive a truck back to the site
if the fields are planted with crops.
She can get to the site from C.R. 1000W, but must walk a half mile to
reach the cemetery. Barnhart said to properly restore the cemetery, she
and those helping her must be able to get vehicles back to the cemetery
to remove the stones and take them elsewhere for restoration.
"We can't just walk a half a mile and then work," said Barnhart.
"There's a lot of work to be done, and if it's not done, (the cemetery)
will be lost."
Barnhart said about 30 graves are believed to be in Stewart Cemetery.
She said she has located about 20 of them, including the grave of her
great-great grandfather Robert Bull.
The cemetery is also the burial site of Revolutionary War soldier Joseph
Galloway. He is just one of two Revolutionary War veterans to be buried
in Noble County.
"It's an honor that we have a Revolutionary War veteran buried in Noble
County," said commissioners president Mark Pankop. "It doesn't seem like
we're doing justice here."
The next move by the county to find access to the cemetery is in the
hands of the county attorney. The commissioners asked James Mowery to
send a letter to Miller advising him of his legal role in caring for the
cemetery. Barnhart said the cemetery looked as though it hadn't been
mowed this year, but most of the trees had been cut down. She also said
some stones had been moved.
"It looks now like a tornado went through it," said Barnhart.
If Miller doesn't accept the responsibility, the commissioners said he
could be charged with a Class C infraction, punishable by a $500 fine.
"Elected officials normally respond to public pressure," said Pankop.
"There's a penalty if they don't."
To legally push for an easement to the cemetery, the commissioners
recommended that Barnhart and her supporters, which include many
veterans organizations, get a lawyer.
Commissioner Richard Winebrenner also recommended Barnhart get another
supporter of her restoration efforts, the Department of Natural
Resources, involved to see how that government entity might help.
"I just didn't want to make it worse, more explosive than it already
is," said Barnhart of her hesitation to get more people involved in the
fight for an easement.
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